Abstract

Hypertrophy of the heart is a reliable sign of heart disease. A definitely enlarged heart is foredoomed to failure. The functional disadvantages of enlargement of the myocardial fibers have been stressed by Harrison, Ashman, et al.1 and by Wearn, Roberts, et al.2 Cardiologists have held that recognizable hypertrophy is always pathological, progressive, irreversible and eventually detrimental. The argument that heart muscle hypertrophy may be advantageous like that of skeletal muscle, as exemplified by the blacksmith's biceps, may be countered with the argument that Sandow was really muscle-bound. The bulging muscle makes a striking show, but the long sleek muscle strikes